Building block molding machine



July 12, 1949. c. M. LONG 2,475,904

BUILDING BLOCK MOLDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 21, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Cyrus 2% l0 July 12, 1949. c. M. LONG BUILDING BLOCK MOLDING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 21, 1946 4 W I 6 2 9 f .1 622 Z 2 M W //N L g\ m P |n u L m. m w W U A 6 M M,+ l hnn hu J W n M H m M 0 v. M 2 2 Patented July 12, 1949 no stares @ATENT FFICFE BUILDING BLOCK MOLDING MACHINE Cyrus M.- Long, Auburn, Wash.

"Application February 21, 1946, Serial No; 649,172

4. Claims. '1 My invention relates to molding machines and more particularly to machines for molding hollow building'blo'eks "-T-heobjec't of=my invention is to produce a molding machine adapted to vibrate plastic concreteint'o'aidense "mass on a wooden pallet without leakage of waterorcement between the pallet-and them'old.

Another object of my invention is to provide a molding machinamakingdt"possible to remove the blockson the palletrabout 3ozseconds-aafter the machine has been started to mold them.

Other objects.-of-.my..invention. mayappear in the following specification describing my invention-:w'lth reference to the -.accompanyingadraw- 'i-ngs illustrating ..a preferred embodiment vof vmy invention. i'J It .ismhowever, to be understood that myzinvention issnottobelimited or restricted to thei exact'aconstructiontand combination of parts described in thenspecification and shown in the drawings but'that such changes and modifications 'can be made, which f-all -within the scope er the claims' appended hereto.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the molding machine according to my invention.

Figure 2 is an end view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary end view of the molding machine according to my invention, the mold being shown in position lifted from the pallet supporting molded blocks, and

Figure 5 is a detail view of a counter-weight arrangement for balancing the weight of the empty mold while being lifted from the pallet.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the molding machine according to my invention has a frame preferably made of angle iron. It has four legs l stifiened by cross pieces H and top cross pieces l2 and longitudinal bracing pieces l3 and top longitudinal pieces M.

Three bars l extend transversely of the top frame formed by the top cross pieces l2 and top longitudinal pieces l4, and these bars are welded onto the longitudinal pieces It in equal distances from each other. After being welded into position the top surfaces of the three bars I5 are ground so that they form a true level surface. A wooden pallet I6 is planed on top and bottom and rests on the ground top surfaces of the bars 15.

On each of the center cross pieces II midway between the legs ID a bearing I1 is arranged and a rock shaft I8 is rotatably supported in these hearings.

On each of the top cross pieces l2 and the bottom'cross pieces H a guide'IS is-arranged in which a supporting rod. 2 llis slidab'ly. .positioned. Intermediate 'theends of each supporting. rod an open rectangular portion' 2 I .is formed, permitting'the shaft I 8 to extend therethrough so that the supporting rods can be moved freely upxand down.

Each supporting rod has a crosswise ext'ending'tubu-lar member-22 on its. upper end. A mold- 23 'has two longitudinal "side members- 24 -and a plurality of cross members 25 forming :in- *dividual molds -of-any desired size. The over all dimension of the 'mold- 23 is always the same and theside members 24exten'd beyond the'end' cross members 25. Thetubelar memb'ers'22 are located between the ends of the side' members and a bolt 26 extends through each tubular member and the-adjacent ends :of theside members exchangeab'ly' supportingthe mold 23.

' Adjacent each end of the shaft 18 an eccentric '2'l'isrigidly-mounted on the shaft-inside of the supporting rod' zli. On each supporting rod two "sleeves 28 "are adjustably arranged and each sleeve-rot'atably supports a "follower roller 29 permanently in contact with an eccentric '21. Set screws- 20- secure the sleeves and follower rollers in adjusted position relative to the eccentrics 21.

On one end of the eccentric shaft I8 two hand levers 3| are rigidly mounted and extend at right angles to each other. A stop bar 32 extends longitudinally of the frame and is supported by the center cross pieces II. An arm 33 is adjustably clamped on the eccentric shaft l8 and is adapted to engage the stop bar 32, when the eccentric shaft is rotated by means of the hand levers so that the cams pull the mold 23 downwardly into close contact with the pallet l6.

Another arm 34 is also adjustably clamped on the eccentric shaft l8 and is positioned so that it will engage the stop bar 32 when the eccentric shaft is rotated so that the eccentrics lift the mold 23 from the pallet 16 and the building blocks 35 on the pallet.

To facilitate the lifting of the mold 23 a counter-weight 36 is adjustably and exchangeably clamped onto the eccentric shaft l8.

Core boxes 3! are suspended in the individual molds in any desired conventional manner. The top and bottom faces of the members forming the mold are surface ground, and the pallet is brushed with oil before use. This results in a close junction between the mold and the pallet, preventing leakage of water or cement between the two parts.

The vibrating mechanism commonly used with block molding machines does not form a part of my invention and is therefore not described nor shown. Any desired vibrating mechanism may be used, for instance, a magnetic vibrator clamped to a leg of the machine;

To operate the machine a quarter revolution is imparted to the eccentric shaft [8 by pushing or pulling one handle lever 31. When this is done the other hand lever is in position for operation and the movement of the mold can be finished with this second hand lever.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A molding machine for building blocks including a frame, a ground top surface on said frame, a pallet planed on both sides resting on the ground frame top surface, a shaft extending lengthwise of and rotatably supported by the frame, a hand lever on the shaft to rotate it, a supporting rod vertically slidably arranged on each end of the frame, a tubular cross piece on the top of each supporting rod, a mold having a ground bottom surface and adapted to fit tightly on the pallet, a bolt extending through each tubular member and removably engaging the ends of the side members of the mold, and cooperating means on the shaft and the supporting rods for moving the mold in and out of pallet engaging position.

2. A molding machine for building blocks including a frame slidably supporting a supporting rod on each of its ends in vertical position, an open rectangular portion arranged intermediate the ends of each supporting rod, a ground top surface on the frame, a planed pallet mounted on the top surface, a surface ground mold supported by the supporting rods and adapted to tightly engage the pallet, a shaft rotatably supported by the frame and extending through the open rectangular portions of the supporting rods, eccentric rigidly mounted on each end of the shaft adjacent each supporting rod, two followers rotatably and adjustably attached to each supporting rod above and below each eccentric and adapted to be contacted thereby, and means for rotating the shaft in either direction and thereby moving the mold in and out of pallet engaging position.

3. In a machine for molding building blocks, a frame having a horizontal top, a fiat pallet mounted on said frame, a mold reciprocably mounted above said pallet, a pair of supporting rods reciprocably mounted adjacent the opposite ends of said frame and supporting said mold, said rods having integral open frame sections therein, a pair of followers pivotally mounted on each supporting rod above and below the open frame sections, a rock shaft journaled longitudinally of the frame, and eccentrics mounted on the rock shaft intermediate the pair of followers on the supporting rods for raising and lowering the mold.

4. In a machine for molding building blocks, a frame having a horizontal top, a fiat pallet mounted on said frame, a mold reciprocably mounted above said pallet, a pair of supporting rods reciprocably mounted adjacent the opposite ends of said frame and supporting said mold, said rods having integral open frame sections therein, a pair of sleeves mounted on each supporting rod above and below said open frame sections, followers rotatably mounted on said sleeves, a rock shaft journaled longitudinally of the frame, and eccentrics mounted on said rock shaft intermediate the pairs of followers on each supporting rod for raising and lowering the mold.

CYRUS M. LONG.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 777,086 Emery Dec. 13, 1904 830,157 Lowe Sept. 4, 1906 1,634,740 Dale July 5, 1927 1,957,421 Daniels et a1 May 1, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 547,522 France Dec. 18, 1922 

